Chapter 222: Peeling the Cocoon

"Lin Sicheng, do you know Qi Gong?"

"Stop talking nonsense, how could there be any Qi Gong?"

"Then how can you lift a sixty-catty blade with one hand?"

"It's technique: others only use the strength in their arms, but I can use the strength in my legs, my waist, my hips, and my back..."

"Doesn't that still mean you know Qi Gong?"

"Ye Anning, you've read too many martial arts novels, haven't you?"

Ye Anning gave him a pat.

The two of them laughed and joked around. Zhao Xiuneng and Wang Qi Zhi let their imaginations run wild and began to ponder: according to Lin Sicheng's explanation, if this strength can be applied to the arms, could it also be applied elsewhere?

Don't be surprised; regardless of how high an official one is, or whether one is just scratching a living from the soil. And regardless of whether one is seventy or eighty, or just in their twenties, as long as one is a man, there isn't one who doesn't ponder this.

Subconsciously, the two older men exchanged a glance: hehehehehe...

Lin Sicheng feigned seriousness, but Ye Anning always felt something was wrong.

Just as she was feeling baffled, her gaze paused, and she poked Lin Sicheng with her finger.

Lin Sicheng looked helpless: "I already said, it's not Qi Gong?"

"Who's talking to you about that? Look..."

"Look at what?"

"A beauty!"

"There are plenty of beauties..."

"It's Zhuang Yi!" Ye Anning pointed inside, "Look in the main hall!"

Not far, just five or six meters away, is the Chongning Tower of the Guan Sheng Temple. This is the main hall of the Guan Sheng Temple, where one can both offer incense and draw lots, so there are many tourists.

Taking a closer look, Zhuang Yi was kneeling under the incense table, holding three sticks of incense in her hands.

Lin Sicheng wore a strange expression.

Before coming to Shanxi, Ye Anning joked with him: Lin Sicheng, Zhuang Yi's hometown is in Yuncheng, do you believe that if we go this time, we will definitely run into her?

Lin Sicheng scoffed: Cousin Ye, do you know how big Yuncheng is?

But now?

Cousin Ye's mouth has been blessed...

In her surprise, Zhuang Yi offered the incense, bowed three times, and leaned forward to insert them into the Incense Burner.

A staff member gave her a bamboo cylinder, and she held it in her hands, shaking it "clatter-clatter" a few times, and a wooden lot fell out.

Zhuang Yi picked up the lot and stood up, took an instinctive look at it, and then froze.

A young man was standing next to her, and the two looked very much alike; he leaned in: "What did you shake?"

Zhuang Yi pushed him: "Don't look!"

"I'm your brother!"

"Even if you're my brother, no!"

As she spoke, Zhuang Yi walked out clutching the lot, but just as she turned, her pupils suddenly contracted, and her heart began to thump "thump-thump-thump."

Afterwards, she jerked her head around, staring straight at the Guan Erye in the main hall.

She had just made a wish and drawn a lot in front of the statue, and then, upon turning around, a living person was standing right in front of her?

Could this not be a deity manifesting?

And this lot... oh right, there's the lot... it just feels, so magical, so wondrous?

For a moment, Zhuang Yi's mind was in chaos, as if it had been stirred into paste. It was even more like she was being chased by a ghost; her eyes were still fixed on the wooden lot, and her feet stepped outward subconsciously.

"Clang," her toe kicked against the threshold.

With an "ah," her body fell forward due to inertia, and the lot in her hand flew out, heading straight for Lin Sicheng.

"Zhuang Yi..." the young man behind her exclaimed, and in a flurry, he grabbed her by the back of her collar; Zhuang Yi's eyes bulged from the strain, and her tongue even stuck out.

"Brother... quickly... let go..."

"No... such a high threshold, couldn't you see it?"

It wasn't that she didn't see it; she hadn't been looking at all.

The young man let her go; whether from the choking or the embarrassment, Zhuang Yi's face flushed red: "Lin... Sicheng, Assistant Ye, what a coincidence!"

Lin Sicheng nodded with a smile and returned the lot: "Indeed, Miss Zhuang, what a coincidence!"

Calling Lin Sicheng by his full name, but calling her Assistant Ye?

Ye Anning pursed her lips and took a glance, but once she saw it, she was stunned.

It should be peach wood, less than a finger wide, just a thin slip, with a few lines of text carved on it:

Eryi, Su Wu Herding Sheep.

The camp expects success before spring, who knew that by autumn it would be otherwise, but meeting the noble young master of the clear river, one's life's work finally becomes secure.

Hehe, noble young master... isn't this a marriage lot?

So, it's more than just a coincidence...

Looking at this poem, looking at her expression, and then guessing, what did Zhuang Yi pray for?

In an instant, Ye Anning realized: it's not like they hadn't met before, they had even strolled through a park together. It was just a chance encounter, so why was Zhuang Yi so flustered?

And then looking at the statue, looking at the lot in her hand, and even that high threshold, she had acted as if it didn't exist?

Because she saw Lin Sicheng.

One moment she was praying to the gods, and the next moment the deity manifested; who wouldn't be flustered?

Ye Anning stared at the Guan Gong wearing the Dragon Robe in the shrine, then looked at the lot: is it really that accurate?

Before the October 1st holiday, Li Xinfang instigated Gu Ming to introduce Zhuang Yi to Lin Sicheng. After the holiday, she secretly took Zhuang Yi to the school to see Lin Sicheng.

Before the Double Eleventh, after the Double Eleventh, does it count as autumn?

On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, five people happened to bump into each other; does that count as spring?

And this line that follows: "Directly encounter a noble son from the clear river"?

"Clear river" generally refers to water; is a lake as large as the Jinglong Pool in Xingqing Palace considered water? The key is that on that day, they happened to meet right by the side of the Jinglong Pool.

And does Lin Sicheng count as a noble son?

Of course he counts: young, wealthy, and talented. Not to mention he looks good, his temperament and way of speaking are even better... This isn't what she said, it's what her aunt said.

Even her uncle sighs from time to time: when they go out together, Lin Sicheng seems more like a Second Generation than he, the real Second Generation...

With all sorts of messy thoughts swirling in her mind, the more Ye Anning thought about it, the stranger it felt.

Zhuang Yi took the wooden bamboo slip, a hint of embarrassment appearing in her eyes, and hurriedly introduced: "Lin Sicheng, Assistant Ye, this is my brother!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "General Manager Zhuang!"

"Oh, Teacher Lin? Li Xinfang and Zhuang Yi often mention you. I also know Gu Ming, and I know General Manager Fang Jingxian, they also often mention you..."

"To be honest, Teacher Lin, I have always been thinking about when I could invite you out for a sit-down, but I felt it was too presumptuous, so I didn't dare to bring it up!"

Zhuang Zijing chattered on and hurriedly reached out his hand, "Meeting by chance is better than a planned invitation. Teacher Lin, you must do me the honor today!"

At first, Lin Sicheng was still a bit suspicious, thinking to himself that they didn't even know each other, was this person being a bit too enthusiastic?

But once he heard Gu Ming and Fang Jingxian, he understood: not to mention Gu Ming, just take Fang Jingxian—if it weren't for Lin Sicheng's help, that piece of Wei Material Guanyin would have been stuck in her hands.

Later, the Jade Buddha that Lin Sicheng got from Zhejiang was also sold to her; Fang Jingxian knew exactly how high Lin Sicheng's skills in appraising jade were.

Li Xinfang also knew; since they all knew each other, they would certainly talk about it.

And it just so happened that Zhuang Yi's family business was in jewelry...

He smiled: "General Manager Ye, it's really unfortunate, I have an appointment with a guest later to discuss some things!"

Zhuang Zijing didn't mind: "It doesn't matter, see when Teacher Lin is free, any time is fine!"

Gu Ming's friend is also equivalent to a friend; it was just a meal, so Lin Sicheng agreed.

After introducing Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng and exchanging mobile numbers, the brother and sister took their leave.

As they were parting, Zhuang Yi looked at Lin Sicheng, then looked at Ye Anning: "Lin Sicheng, Assistant Ye, whenever you have time, I'll invite you to Hejin to play..."

"We have the Yukou Longmen where Dayu controlled the floods, the Zhenwu Temple (Jiulong Temple from the Yuan Dynasty) which is as famous as the Yongle Palace, as well as the Xia Dynasty Gaomou Temple, the Xue Rengui Cold Kiln..."

"Oh, so many historical sites?" Just as Lin Sicheng was about to speak, Ye Anning stepped in first, looking pleasantly surprised, "If we have time, we must go. Zhuang Yi, I'll call you then!"

Zhuang Yi's smile paused, and she nodded.

Watching the two siblings walk away, then looking at the pouting Ye Anning, Wang Qi Zhi let out a "Tch."

Ye Anning didn't speak, secretly rolling her eyes.

Of course she knew what her uncle meant: isn't Li Zhen prettier than this Zhuang Yi?

With Lin Sicheng's personality—firm on the outside and firm on the inside, as firm as it could possibly be—could he take a fancy to this girl who is as frail as a chick?

Ye Anning, you are worrying for nothing...

Thinking about it this way, she felt much more relaxed. Ye Anning looked at the statue of Guan Gong and felt a bit suspicious: "Lin Sicheng, looking at Zhuang Yi's slip, it seems quite accurate? Should I go ask for one?"

"Accurate? Where did you see that it was accurate?"

Lin Sicheng looked strange, "Besides, that slip was just average; even if it were accurate, how accurate could it be?"

"I think the meaning is quite good?" Ye Anning was half-believing, "Can you interpret it?"

"The Guan Gong slips aren't that profound. I'll tell you the answer directly..."

"That is the twelfth slip of the Guan Gong slips. The verdict says: Fame is delayed, wealth has not arrived, if ill change the doctor, lawsuits are most to be avoided, the traveler returns, pregnancy produces a noble child, encounter a high official, only then will it be auspicious..."

"Su Dongpo's interpretation: Doing things is hesitant, seeking wealth is unfulfilled, a noble person by the river, wishing for it is like a wish! If one seeks it by chance, it is a waste of mental effort; just be cautious in your conduct and wait for the time to come."

"Bixian Yuanjun's annotation: Everything is hard to achieve, good things instead cause sorrow, from now on meet with support, all good things will be prosperous..."

"Do you know what these three sentences mean? Except for seeking wealth and pregnancy, the more you seek the others, the worse it gets. Besides, whether it's accurate or not isn't certain... Anyway, I think it's just for psychological comfort..."

Hearing "only good for seeking wealth and pregnancy," Ye Anning's mood immediately improved: "Psychological comfort is psychological comfort, I'm going to go ask for one too..."

Before she even finished speaking, she walked into the main hall.

It wasn't cheap: ten yuan to offer incense, another ten yuan to ask for a slip, and an extra five yuan to take the slip away.

Ye Anning didn't hesitate at all and paid on the spot.

She was quite pious, closing her eyes and holding the incense, muttering for a long time before inserting it into the Incense Burner. Then she shook the bamboo cylinder and walked out holding a slip.

"Lin Sicheng, hurry, hurry, help me take a look!"

Lin Sicheng glanced at it: Jia-Ren, Song Taizu Inherits the Throne at Chenqiao, Zhang Jingzhao Draws Eyebrows.

Look for news of him toward Chang'an, often look carefully at the water chestnut flower.

Hearing that the document is about to enter the border, today joy rises to the eyebrows.

He looked strange: "You picked it by turning the bamboo cylinder?"

"No way, it just shook out?" Ye Anning stood on tiptoe, "Is this slip very good?"

"Of course!"

There are one hundred Guan Gong slips, arranged from ominous to auspicious: nineteen very-low, one low-middle, twenty-four middle-flat, eight very-high, twenty-seven middle-auspicious, eighteen high-auspicious.

And there are only three "Great Auspicious" slips; this is one of them.

Lin Sicheng nodded: "What did you ask for?"

"I won't tell you!"

"If you don't tell me, how can I interpret it for you?"

Ye Anning hesitated for a moment: "I asked for everything!"

Tsk, this slip, can it really be used to ask for anything?

"The verdict says: Fame and wealth will surely arrive, lawsuits will be won, illness will be cured, pregnancy will produce a boy, marriage can be sought, the traveler will arrive, there is nothing to worry about."

"Dongpo's interpretation: Long-held plans and hopes, suddenly receiving good news. Once the message is in hand, joy is right before your eyes! It is advantageous to go forth, and wealth of a thousand gold will be gained. What you seek will be fulfilled, and everything will be to your heart's content..."

Lin Sicheng returned it: "Do you understand what it means?"

Of course.

Everything goes as you wish, everything goes smoothly, and you get whatever you want.

The key is that line: Long-held plans and hopes, suddenly receiving good news...

"Haha... I'll enshrine it when I get back!" Ye Anning glanced at Lin Sicheng, "Are you going to draw a lot too?"

What good person draws lots?

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "Let's go!"

Ye Anning didn't mind, happily tucking it into her bosom.

Zhao Xiuneng and Wang Qi Zhi looked at each other: Who said the Guan Di lot isn't profound?

If it were so easy to interpret, could the incense in this temple be so popular?

It's just that, Lin Sicheng's broad learning is secondary; the key is that he truly understands...

After strolling for a while, it was nearly four o'clock, and the group discussed going to eat first.

It was also a coincidence; just as they left the temple gate, the stall owner's call came in.

Zhao Xiuneng was about to answer when Lin Sicheng pointed forward: In the parking lot in front of the mountain gate, the fat boss was leaning against a pickup truck, holding a mobile phone in his hand.

They hung up the call and walked over.

The fat boss put away his phone: "No contact for two days, I thought you didn't want them anymore?"

Of course they wanted the items, but this man was an old fox: the tighter you chase, the higher he keeps his price. That's why neither Lin Sicheng nor Zhao Xiuneng had contacted him.

It wasn't until nearly twelve o'clock last night that the fat boss called Zhao Xiuneng, saying he would bring the porcelain shards over today...

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Three days round trip, the place you went to is quite far, right?"

"It's not close!" The boss was noncommittal, opening the tailgate of the pickup truck, "Let's be clear first, I won't sell if it's less than a thousand per crate!"

"Fine!"

After agreeing, Lin Sicheng and Zhao Xiuneng jumped onto the truck bed. With just one look, both of them paused and exchanged a glance.

There were five full large baskets, all porcelain shards, but they were not all blue and white.

Looking closer: most of those with blue and white patterns were Foreign Blue glaze. There was some Tuqing Material, but only a very few pieces, and the signs of aging were clearly much shallower than those from before.

Looking at the other shards: there was White Porcelain, Celadon, and even black Colored Porcelain and black-ground white-painted flower and Carving Out Flowers porcelain.

Looking at the body quality, it was roughly the same. But the soil encrustation was very heavy; one look and you knew it hadn't been dug up long ago.

But that wasn't the point; the point was the era: some were new and some were old, with varying degrees of aging. The newer pieces were only eighty or ninety years old, at most no more than a hundred. But those old pieces, no matter how you looked at them, seemed like things from seven or eight hundred years ago?

When was seven or eight hundred years ago?

The Yuan Dynasty, or perhaps even the Jin?

The most critical thing was that the body quality was basically identical. Compared to the ones from the day before yesterday, it was exactly the same?

What did this mean?

It meant that these porcelain shards all used the same type of porcelain clay, should have been produced in the same region, and were very likely from the same kiln.

Therefore, there was a high probability that it was a kiln that fired from the Song Dynasty all the way to the Republic of China.

It takes a long time to say, but it was actually very quick. The two of them just took a glance and then jumped off the truck.

The fat boss was stunned for a moment, not knowing what these two meant.

Zhao Xiuneng took out a cigarette case and handed him one: "Boss, you only have a few pieces of blue and white here, and you dare to ask for five thousand?"

"The blue and white have mostly been picked out by me, these are all the shards left!"

Pangzi took the cigarette and had Zhao Xiuneng light it for him, "But there are plenty of finished pieces, want to take another look?"

"Just those blue and white ones on your stall, are there any others?"

The fat boss shook his head, and Zhao Xiuneng sighed, "Let's just take these for now, one thousand in total, if that's okay, I'll take them away!"

"Add a little more, add a little more..."

Assuming they only wanted the blue and white, the fat boss squeezed out a smile and glanced at Lin Sicheng again.

At first glance, he seemed uninterested, not even having the mind to negotiate. But having been together for so long, whether it was Wang Qi Zhi or Ye Anning, they knew him too well:

Zhao Xiuneng was clearly attracting the boss's attention, while Lin Sicheng seemed idle, but was actually likely looking for something.

After smoking half a cigarette, about three or four minutes later, Zhao Xiuneng had also negotiated the price: one thousand five hundred for five crates.

Lin Sicheng also circled the truck once.

The Mercedes-Benz and Jeep Grand Cherokee were driven over, and they moved the items in a few moments. As Zhao Xiuneng took out the money, he said seemingly casually: "Boss, give me the bottom line: with so much soil encrustation on these, they wouldn't be dug out of a tomb, would they?"

"Rest assured, whose tomb could be buried with so much porcelain?" The fat boss patted his chest, "They were just dug out of a Waste Porcelain Pit."

"There are Waste Porcelain Pits in Yuncheng? I've never heard of that."

"Who says there aren't?" Pangzi chuckled, his beady eyes gleaming, "If you bosses want more, I'll go get some more!"

He was truly an old fox, his words were watertight.

Knowing he couldn't get anything out of him, Zhao Xiuneng stopped probing and paid the money readily.

After the pickup truck left the parking lot, Wang Qi Zhi picked up a piece of Celadon from the top of the crate: "This shard looks quite old?"

"It is quite old!" Lin Sicheng nodded, "It should be Song Porcelain!"

What was that?

The five people were all stunned, including Zhao Xiuneng.

He could conclude that those white porcelain and Celadon pieces should be around the Yuan Dynasty, or perhaps even earlier, but he could at most date them to the Jin Dynasty; he hadn't dared to think as far back as the Song Dynasty.

If it were the Song, Shanxi during the two Song periods could only be the Northern Song Dynasty... which meant about a thousand years from now!

"It should be an imitation of the Sky Blue Glaze from the Chai Kiln and the Official Kiln in Bianjing (Kaifeng), with slight improvements, making the color more elegant, moist, and bright..."

Lin Sicheng turned the porcelain shard over again, "The body is very thin, the texture is delicate, nine times out of ten it is Tribute Porcelain..."

The five people stared blankly, not knowing what to say.

It would be one thing to be able to pick up Ming Dynasty Tianshun blue and white porcelain at a street stall, but this time it was even more exaggerated—it actually turned out to be Northern Song Dynasty Tribute Porcelain?

After a long while, Zhao Xiuneng frowned: "During the Northern Song Dynasty, it seems Shanxi didn't produce any famous porcelain?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "If you comb through historical documents, that is indeed the case."

If one follows the conclusions of historians: in the five hundred years from Tang Xuanzong to the Yuan Dynasty, Shanxi was always a land of constant warfare.

First was the An Lushan Rebellion, then the Liao, then the Jin, and finally the Mongol Yuan; with years of endless fighting, the local kilns in Shanxi never had a chance to develop and grow.

Instead, they frequently ceased firing, and could not even supply local daily-use porcelain, having to import from Chang'an and Bianjing.

But Lin Sicheng felt that nothing is absolute, just like the Jian Kiln black cups: after the Song Dynasty, everyone knew that Black Glazed Rabbit Hair Cups were Song Dynasty Tribute Porcelain, but no one knew where they were produced. It wasn't until after the founding of the nation that archaeological excavations of the Fujian Jian Kiln finally clarified the place of origin.

There is also the Shouzhou Yellow Glaze, which was also only known to be Tang Dynasty Tribute Porcelain, until the excavation of Tomb No. 1 at Wuwangdun in Huainan City, Anhui Province, unearthed relevant documents, and it was only then known that the place of origin was Shouzhou.

Compared to that, precisely because Shanxi was plagued by years of war, many documents and even ruins were destroyed in the chaos of war.

Therefore, it is not necessarily the case that Shanxi has no Tribute Porcelain; it is merely a matter of whether the ruins are large, how deep they are buried, and how easy they are to find.

He thought for a moment: "Teacher, Zhao Shixiong, why don't we try to look for it first?"

"Right, look for it! Whether it's Tianshun blue and white or Song Porcelain, it's enough if we can find one of them!" Wang Qi Zhi nodded vigorously, "Maybe, we can find them all!"

Several people deeply agreed.

Whether it is the new porcelain shards or the old ones, the body texture is almost the same, indicating that they used the same type of ceramic clay. As long as the Ceramic Clay Mine can be found, it is possible to find the kiln site...

"Looking at the tone and demeanor of the fat boss, it should have been searched for locally in Yuncheng. Zhao Shixiong, you should contact him every two days to see if you can pry out more information; if that really doesn't work, just spend some money!"

Zhao Xiuneng nodded, but he felt the possibility was not high: that guy is an old hand, not only shrewd enough, but his heart is also black enough.

As long as you dare to pay, he dares to squeeze information out of you like toothpaste...

"Boheng, Zhongan, tomorrow, you two take a few newer porcelain shards and go to Wanrong first to ask around and see if you can get any news!"

"Remember, don't ask about blue and white or Song Porcelain; just ask if there were any porcelain factories run locally or nearby during the late Qing Dynasty or the Republic of China. And nine times out of ten, it would be the state-run kind..."

The two brothers agreed in unison.

Wang Qi Zhi cupped his chin: Late Qing Dynasty, Republic of China, and even state-run, he could understand all that.

Because Foreign Blue Cobalt Material was only introduced from abroad after the Guangxu reign; although it was cheap, it used chemical blending processes. Shanxi's industry was relatively backward, and without official guidance, it basically couldn't be fired.

"But Lin Sicheng, how do you know it's Wanrong?"

"It's not necessarily Wanrong; it could also be the surrounding areas!" Lin Sicheng cupped his chin, "There was a toll receipt on the dashboard of the pickup truck. The date was handwritten, it was today, and it was stamped with the toll seal of the Wanrong County Transportation Bureau."

Wang Qi Zhi suddenly realized: No wonder he walked around the pickup truck?

"Teacher, I have to trouble you to go to the City Government to see if you can borrow a laboratory from the Industrial Bureau or the city. I will try to analyze it to see if I can find any regional characteristics..."

Wang Qi Zhi nodded: "Rest assured!"

The technology cannot be made public, but borrowing a laboratory is not a big problem.

Ye Anning raised her hand: "What do I do?"

"Aren't you collecting Cultural Relics anymore?"

"I already said my aunt is helping me handle it!"

Heh, and she still says she isn't here to join in the fun?

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "If you are really free with nothing to do, after we go back, help Xiao Liu (Data Clerk) check the data!"

Ye Anning mumbled something, but Lin Sicheng didn't hear it clearly.

After assigning tasks one by one, the group got into the car, and Lin Sicheng took the opportunity to organize his thoughts.

In fact, his idea was very simple: the technology that others can use for a World Heritage Application certainly cannot be obtained for free; it is best to exchange it with technology.

According to his initial plan, after arriving, he would find some samples of Fahua Ware, which would count as an excuse. Then he would logically "deduce" the technology and negotiate with the relevant departments in the city.

This is something that can fill the gaps in local history and technological craftsmanship, and was even later honored by the Shaanxi Provincial Government as the "Shanxi Three Treasures," with a Provincial Museum exhibition held every year. By then, let alone the Jiangzhou Chengni Inkstone, which of these National Level crafts in Yuncheng couldn't be exchanged for it?

The Gold and Silver Filigree of Jishan, Mother-of-Pearl Inlay (Gold and Silver Lacquer Art), Ti-Xi (Lacquer Decoration), the wood carvings of Yongle Palace in Ruicheng... Of course, they can't be used for the time being, and there is no time to research them. But sooner or later, there will be time.

As it turned out, man proposes but God disposes; Fahua Ware is so scarce that even in Shanxi, only a few museums have it?

There is some in other places, and quite a lot—a full ton. But right now, it is sinking at the bottom of the Nanhai with the No. 1 shipwreck. Can he fish it out if he goes there?

But fortunately, when one door closes, another opens. By a stroke of luck, not only did he run into a piece of Great Shun blue and white, but there was even Song Porcelain?

If this kiln site could be found, it would also fill a gap in local history: to date, no porcelain production ruins have been discovered in Yuncheng.

But where could it be? Puzhou?

Lin Sicheng pinched the white porcelain shard and pondered again: This is the only historical record of porcelain production and kiln sites in Yuncheng in ancient documents.

"Discussion on Porcelain from the Drinking Stream Studio" (written by Xu Zhiheng of the Qing Dynasty) records: The products of Fahua sprouted in the Yuan Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty; they were mostly from northern kilns. Puzhou ware is the best... To put it bluntly, that is the place that produced Fahua Ware.

Puzhou is now Yongji, a county-level city of YC City, but from the early nineties until now, the local government has been looking for twenty years, and let alone a kiln, they haven't even found a Waste Porcelain Pit.

And looking at this soil quality, it doesn't look much like the body texture of Puzhou Fahua Ware...

After pondering for a long time, they arrived at the hotel, but he still had no clue.

After getting out of the car, Lin Sicheng remembered again: "Boheng, when you and Zhongan go to Wanrong, besides looking for the porcelain factory, remember to ask about the Waste Porcelain Pit!"

Zhao Da nodded.

When his father was prying information from the fat boss, he was right there, and that fat man was indeed talking about a Waste Porcelain Pit.

And for any kiln that fires porcelain, regardless of size, there must be defective or broken pieces, which are usually buried nearby. Finding the Waste Porcelain Pit basically means finding the kiln site.

"Master, should we ask about the Ceramic Clay Mine while we're at it?"

"You can ask about that too. Remember to let Xiao Liu check the surrounding mine data first!"

"Okay, Master..."

While giving instructions, they moved several baskets of porcelain upstairs.

Sitting in the elevator, Lin Sicheng stared at the baskets: "Zhao Shixiong, is this red thorn strip?"

Zhao Xiuneng did not understand why: "Yes!"

"This doesn't look hand-woven; it should be machine-woven. And it's still so new, nine times out of ten it was newly bought from the street by that Pangzi boss..."

Lin Sicheng had a sudden inspiration, "Senior Brother Zhao, remember to instruct Boheng and Zhongan to take one of these baskets when they go to Wanrong, and while they're there, ask which factory produced it."

"Oh right, also ask if the locals make yellow millet fried cakes, the kind made with hard broomcorn millet... There's half a bag tossed on the passenger seat of the pickup truck, the sugary filling hasn't even set yet, it's likely the Pangzi boss was in a hurry to get on the road and bought it as lunch..."

Zhao Xiuneng and Wang Qi Zhi looked at each other: first it was the toll receipt, and now it's a basket?

Then, there's the hard broomcorn millet fried cake, and he even knows it's Pangzi's lunch... just from circling the car once, how many clues have you discovered?

No wonder Chen Peng is single-mindedly trying to get him to become a Police officer?

Muttering to themselves, the elevator reached the floor; since the suite couldn't hold everything, Wang Qi Zhi directly rented a conference room.

The tables and chairs were all cleared out, all the porcelain was dumped out, and nine people knelt on the carpet, sorting through it piece by piece.

Lin Sicheng held two porcelain shards, muttering: "The body of this White Porcelain is so white, the iron content should be extremely low. And it's so fine, it should be high-aluminum, high-potassium powdery clay... yes, alkaline Feldspar, Quartz..."

"But this piece is so coarse? There's coal cinder, sand grains... eh, Luliang Mountains porcelain clay... Yellow River beach clay?"

As he spoke, he stood up abruptly: "Boheng, don't go to Wanrong anymore. Once you reach Wanrong, head west, go toward both banks of the Yellow River, near the southern foothills of the Luliang Mountains..."

"Let me think..." Lin Sicheng counted on his fingers, "Besides Wanrong County, there's also Hancheng, Lin Yi, Xiangning, Heyang, Hejin... yes, just these six places!"

The group looked at each other: it's only been a few minutes?

Ye Anning was stunned for a moment, then narrowed her eyes: isn't Zhuang Yi's hometown in Hejin?